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Some U.S. States Roll Back Mask Mandates Amid Warnings; McConnell Denounces RNC Resolution, Censure; Macron Hails Diplomatic Progress, Kremlin Noncommittal; Lindsey Jacobellis Wins First U.S. Gold Medal for 2022; Exclusive: Inside the Kabul Airport Attack. Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired February 09, 2022 - 04:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[04:00:00]

ISA SOARES, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and a very warm welcome to our viewers joining us in the United States and right around the world. I'm Isa Soares in London and just ahead right here on CNN NEWSROOM.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's pretty clear that this in our judgment is the right responsible step to take.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have more tools now to help address the pandemic.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The science is gray and the science evolves and the science changes.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: Across America mask mandates are being ditched as states shift to a new phase in the pandemic.

And glory and agony for Team USA we are live at the Beijing Olympics with the latest drama and all the action for you.

Plus, a CNN exclusive investigation raises questions about the deadly terror attack in Kabul that killed dozens of people during America's chaotic exit from Afghanistan.

ANNOUNCER: Live from London, this is CNN NEWSROOM with Isa Soares.

SOARES: Welcome to the show, everyone. It is Wednesday, February 9th. A new pandemic normal is emerging in some of America's biggest states. The health officials warn it may be too soon to ditch masks. New York is expected to become the latest in indoor mask mandates that is according to "The New York Times" It will join a growing number of states from California to Delaware that have recently announced plans to drop indoor mask mandates. Others like Connecticut and New Jersey are eliminating the mandate in schools. State leaders say the changes are due to falling case numbers, as well as fewer hospitalizations. Officials also credit more people getting vaccinated but the U.S.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says infections and hospitalizations are still too high -- as you can see in the graph -- to make any guidance changes and a whopping 99 percent of counties still have high levels of transmission. Have a listen.

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DR. ROCHELLE WALENSKY DIRECTOR, U.S. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION: We've always said the state and local jurisdictions are the ones responsible for those kinds of policies from asking policies. Right now, our CDC guidance has not changed. We have and continue to recommend masking in areas of high and substantial transmission. That is essentially everywhere in the country in public indoor settings.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: With all of this mixed messaging perhaps it's no surprise that Americans are split on returns to any sense of normalcy. A new poll says more than half of the country is uneasy of that return to a pre- pandemic life. 56 percent as you can see there say going back is a large or moderate risk. The U.S. Surgeon General Monday acknowledges the country is in a difficult position.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. VIVEK MURTHY, U.S. SURGEON GENERAL: The year three going into this pandemic there are a lot of people who are frustrated, who are tired, who are exhausted and I think we've got to take that into account as we think of the next stages of the response.

Our goal should be is to get to a place where we can pull back on these types of restrictions as often and as quickly as possible and as safely as possible. And in that process, there will be, I think, a very important role that states and localities play in tailoring the approach based on their individual community circumstances.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: Meanwhile, life is going to stay expensive for everyday Americans. Economists at Goldman Sachs says the cost of groceries will likely remain high for the rest of the year. And is even expected to go up another 5 to 6 percent. The Wall Street bank cited a perfect storm of really bad weather, poor crop yields, strong demand as well as tight inventory. Food and home prices have already soared 11 percent in the past two years. Analysts also blame COVID as well as a worker shortage.

Meanwhile, new data shows Americans have taken out a staggering amount of debt. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, U.S. household debt went up by $1 trillion last year. That is the biggest annual increase since 2007. Mortgages and auto loans were the biggest drivers of the increase.

While bank stocks are booming on Wall Street, meanwhile pushing up U.S. financial markets higher. The Dow finished up more than 1 percent on Tuesday. The Nasdaq gained nearly 1.3 percent and the S&P 500 was also higher. Investors obviously hoping to keep that rally going today as we look at U.S. futures. All arrows are looking pretty bright on the green.

[04:05:00]

Dow futures expected there half of a percent. Nasdaq almost 1 percent and the S&P just a tiny bit higher. We'll stay on top of those numbers for you.

A short-term government funding bill now heads to the Senate after the House passed the resolution aimed at averting a shutdown. Funding is set to expire next Friday but this stopgap bill would extend it through March 11th. This comes as lawmakers continue to work on securing a four-year funding agreement.

The top U.S. Senate Republicans pushing back hard on his own party's national committee resolution that characterized January 6th as something other than a riot after singling out two party members for punishment. Mitch McConnell's point of rebuke is viewed as a strategy message to Republicans hoping to win back control of Congress. CNN's Jessica Dean now reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JESSICA DEAN, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell, pushing back on the Republican National Committee's resolution censuring Representative Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger. And describing the events of January 6th as quote, legitimate political discourse.

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): We're here. We saw what happen. It was a violent insurrection for the purpose of trying to prevent a peaceful transfer of power after a legitimately certified election from one administration to the next. That's what it was.

With regard to the suggestion that the RNC should be in the business of picking and choosing Republicans who ought to be supported. Traditionally the view of the national party committees is that we support all members of our party regardless of their positions on some issues.

DEAN (voice-over): A number of Senate Republicans agree.

SEN. JOHN THUNE (R-SD): I just think it's not a good use of their time right now when the goal is to try to get the House and Senate back to be taking on or looking back at the last election or taking on other republic.

SEN. THOM TILLIS (R-NC): I've told anyone, that the minute you enter the Capitol building, it was no longer discourse. It was riot. They need to be held accountable for what they did. That's not discourse.

SEN. MITT ROMNEY (R-UT): It could not have been a more inappropriate message. One, to sanction two people of character as they did. But number two, to suggest that a violent attack on the seat of democracy is legitimate political discourse is so far from accurate.

DEAN (voice-over): But House Republican leadership would not go that far.

REP. KEVIN MCCARTHY (R-CA): Everybody knows anybody who broke in and caused damage, that was not called for and those people have said from the very beginning should be in jail. What they were talking about is, the six RNC members who January 6th has subpoenaed, who weren't even here, who were in Florida that day.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, you're supporting that resolution?

REP. ELISE STEFANIK (R-NY): The RNC has every right to take any action and the position that I have is that you're ultimately held accountable to voters in your district, voters who you represent. And we're going to hear the feedback and the views of voters pretty quickly here this year.

DEAN (voice-over): Still, Kinzinger and Cheney remain steadfast in the importance of their work on the January 6th committee and finding the truth behind that day.

REP. ADAM KINZINGER (R-IL): Right now, there's just a few of us willing to tell the base voters the truth. There's a lot of people hiding in the sand because the truth is hard and it makes their life a little uncomfortable. I think we have to fight for the soul of not just the party, but the country.

DEAN: This is certainly not what Republicans want to be talking about as we head into the 2022 midterms. They want to make that a referendum on the Biden administration and they want to be unified with their messaging, not disagreeing with one another. As many lawmakers have said here specifically on the Senate side, Republican lawmakers, they want to be looking forward and not back.

Jessica Dean, CNN, Capitol Hill.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: Two days of intense diplomacy appear to have strengthened European resolve. The standoff between Russia and Ukraine remains unchanged. New video shows Russian troops equipment and military equipment in Belarus -- as you can see there. And six Russian warships are on their way to the Black Sea south of Ukraine for what Moscow calls naval drills.

French President Emmanuel Macron was in Kyiv Tuesday to meet with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. Later in Berlin Mr. Macron said he believed steps can be taken to de-escalate the crisis. A key concern among Ukrainian intelligence officials is that Russia will use Belarus as a theater of operations for an attack. Mr. Macron says he has assurances from Russian President Vladimir Putin that that wouldn't happen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): President Macron and I have a very common position on the security threats of the Ukraine and all of Europe and the whole world. They need new positions, new approaches from the European leadership. We stand for the de-occupation of our territory.

[04:10:00]

EMMANUEL MACRON, FRENCH PRESIDENT (through translator): We had an exchange with the president who told me that he would not be the cause of an escalation. The second important element is that there would be no fixed base or deployment of sensitive equipment in Belarus.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: Let's get more on the story. CNN's Nathan Hodge is standing by live for us in Moscow this hour. But I begin with Melissa Bell in Kyiv, Ukraine. Good morning to you, Melissa. We saw President Macron claiming some small victories, of course, as he continues this shuffle diplomacy. What is your sense both from your sources that Elysee but also what you're hearing in Kyiv, Melissa? How much progress has been made so far?

MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, his efforts were clearly welcomed by the Ukrainian president when they met yesterday, Isa, who praised him for his efforts to try and bring peace to the region. And I think this is something Ukrainians have been explaining, officials have been explaining over the course of the last few weeks. Is how much they really want the noise, the tension, the rhetoric ratcheted down and really dialogue in whatever form it might take.

And Macron feels that his progress is that. That there is another possibility around the European table for negotiations. Where before there was really just confrontation between the United States and NATO on one hand and Russia on the other, at least in terms of rhetoric.

Now course, that is the beginning of the possibility of a conversation and perhaps much more important is going to be what happens actually on the ground here over the course of the next few days and weeks. Because as you mentioned, Isa, those military exercises continue not only in the Black Sea to the south but also in Belarus to the north.

And here in Ukraine we're going see more and more over the coming days and weeks of Ukrainian forces carrying out their own military exercises with some of the weaponry they've been receiving from the West over the course of the last few weeks.

So, at the moment even as there is talk of de-escalation, the fact on the ground is still rather of escalation and of everyone preparing for the worst. So, a lot of attention on that, on what's happening around the country. A lot of attention as well, Isa, on what's happening on the frontline here in Ukraine even as everyone expresses hope that the Normandy Format negotiations will continue and bear fruit. We've been hearing from the American ambassador to the U.S.C. who's accused Russia of having its guns locked and loaded against Ukraine and called Russia to do more to implement its part of the Minsk Agreement than what it's been doing so far.

SOARES: Melissa do stay with us. Let me go to Nathan. And Nathan, President Macron yesterday appeared to think Putin agreed to military de-escalation. But that was later, I believe disputed by the Kremlin. Why the confusion? Why the misinterpretation here?

NATHAN HODGE, CNN PRODUCER: Well, Isa, we have a lot of known/unknowns here. We know that we don't know everything that was said behind closed doors in the conversations between President Macron and President Putin earlier this week. We've just had some readouts of this. And when asked about this possibility of steps towards de- escalation the Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, yesterday told reporters that he basically just wasn't going to comment on that. And further declined to give any details on when Russian troops who are now stationed in Belarus, he said that there was no concrete date that was given for when they might withdraw and return to their permanent bases.

Now those exercises in Belarus are slated to begin tomorrow. They're scheduled to run for ten days as well as I mentioned the Ukrainian military is going to be mirroring those exercises with trills of their own and we do have sort of facts in our possession. We do know from overhead imagery that there are substantial forces that are arrayed around Ukraine's borders. Russian forces as well as Russian warships that interest have transited into the Black Sea. But the big question that remains I think on everyone's mind, the big unknown if you will, is what Putin's end game is, and that is anyone's guess -- Isa.

SOARES: And that's what we've all been trying to figure out from the beginning of this crisis really. Nick Hodge there for us, Melissa Bell, appreciate it. Thank you very much.

And still right here on the show. More Olympic heartbreak for American skiing superstar Mikaela Shiffrin as she skis out of another race and maybe her best chances for a metal

Plus, the Pentagon says a loan ISIS bomber carried out the August attack at Kabul's airport that killed more than a 180 people. But an exclusive CNN report raises questions about that conclusion. You'll want to see that exclusive report next.

[04:15:00]

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SOARES: Day five of the Winter Olympics is underway in Beijing and it's a tale of Olympic glory and agony for Team USA. Snowboarder Lindsey Jacobellis just scored America's first gold in these games and her first Olympic gold ever. The 36-year-old clinching the top spot in women's snowboard.

But today also brought another stunning disappointment for American skiing star Mikaela Shiffrin. She skied out of the first slalom run just days after crashing out of her first run of giant slalom.

Let's bring in CNN's Coy Wire live outside Beijing. And Coy, let's start with the disappointment from Mikaela Shiffrin. How is she doing?

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Not well last time we heard from her, but I think she'll be OK, Isa. Crashing out for a second consecutive race. These were her two favorite events, Isa. And then skiing out on that fifth gate, she was going full gas. She had planned the most aggressive line so there was no room for error. She said that full throttle mentality has always brought her the best results. Now she's second guessing everything in the last 15 years. Skiing, race mentality. She slipped on the course. But based on her comments, she's slipping a bit mentally too, and that's not a mental space that any athlete ever wants to be in. Shiffrin had plans of medaling in all five alpine skiing events. Now she's 0 for 2 with just three chances left.

[04:20:00]

But if anyone can calm the mind and reset and pull off something special, it is definitely Shiffrin.

Now speaking of something special, Petra Vlhova, winning Slovakia their first alpine gold. She edges out world champion Katarina Liensberger of Austrian in the slalom by .08 of a second. Winning time is 1:44.98 seconds. Vlhova was in eighth place after the first run but she absolutely flew on run two, Isa. It was a course that her coach said incredible scenes as Petra Vlhova wins gold for Slovakia.

Then you mentioned, Isa, Team USA, first gold medal on the board of these Beijing games. Snowboard cross Lindsey Jacobellis in her fifth Olympic games winning her first ever gold. She gets redemption for a late fall while meeting the 2006 games which led to her settling for silver. Uncontrollable emotion as you can imagine, Isa, after crossing that finish line. And inspiration for us, right. 36 years old, she's is the oldest American woman to ever win gold at a Winter Olympic games. You never give up. Never give in.

SOARES: Indeed. Congratulations to her, that's terrific. Coy Wire, I like that you ended on an upbeat note. Thanks very much my friend, good to see you.

Now a different sort of Victory for one Olympics fan. NBC says former "Saturday Night Live" star Leslie Jones can keep posting her unfiltered reactions to the games. On Monday Jones says she was stopped because she kept getting blocked. But NBC responded Tuesday saying it was a third party. Jones started her commentary during the 2015 games in Rio. She has since gained a large social media following. We look forward to her hilarious amateur analysis.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will hold a state of the league news conference ahead this weekend's Super Bowl. He's expected to address allegations of racism in the league. Goodell has sent a memo to all 32 teams calling the lack of minority head coaches unacceptable. He also met with civil rights leaders to discuss their concerns. 70 percent of NFL players but only two head coaches are black including Lovie Smith who was hired Monday by the Houston Texans. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) LOVIE SMITH, HOUSTON TEXANS HEAD COACH: I realize the amount of black head coaches there are in the National Football League. Mike Tomlin and I think there's me. I don't know of many more. So, there's a problem. I mean, it's obvious for us. But if there's a problem, like, what even to do about it?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: Former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores is suing the NFL and three teams alleging racial discrimination.

The Pentagon puts the blame for last year's deadly attack outside of Kabul's airport on one suicide bomber. But a months' long CNN investigation of that chaotic day raises questions. The exclusive report from our Nick Paton Walsh is next.

[04:25:00]

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SOARES: Now to a CNN exclusive. Last August at the height of the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, a deadly terror attack at Kabul airport killed 13 U.S. service members there and at least 170 Afghan civilians. A Pentagon investigation into the attack released last Friday said everyone died as a result of the blast, the work of a lone suicide bomber.

But a four-month CNN investigation into that horrific airport attack, now raises serious questions about whether that has been investigated fully. Nick Paton Walsh has our report and a warning it this contains graphic images that may be disturbing to our viewers.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY EDITOR (voice over): The blast tore into the dense crowd.

MORSAL HAMIDI, SURVIVOR: A very high blast sound and dead people. I saw a lot of hands, legs without their bodies.

WALSH (voice-over): At least 170 Afghans and 13 U.S. troops died after an ISIS suicide bomber struck outside Kabul airport. A Pentagon investigation of the attack released Friday said everyone died in the blast.

GEN. KENNETH 'FRANK' MCKENZIE, COMMANDER, U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND: The single explosive device killed at least 170 Afghan civilians and 13 U.S. servicemembers by explosively directing ball bearings through a packed crowd and into our men and women at Abbey Gate.

WALSH (voice-over): Our view unearthed this brief glimpse of the bomber. CNN spent four months investigating the incident reviewing medical records and analyzing video photos and audio of the scene. And speaking to over 70 witnesses of families of the dead, doctors, hospital staff and survivors who insist some of the dead and wounded were shot. The analysis and testimonies raise hard questions as to whether the bomb can explain all the deaths.

NOORULLAH ZAKHEL, SURVIVOR: When the soldier came directly and they started firing. I laid down when they start firing like this.

WALSH (voice-over): CNN spoke to doctors and medical staff at five hospitals who spoke of seeing or treating what they say were gunshot wounds.

An Italian-run emergency hospital told CNN in a statement about that evening, their doctors assessed, quote, gunshot wounds on nine victims who arrived dead in the hour after the blast. Seven was shot in the head they said.

But there was no autopsy done for those are rare in Afghanistan. So, they assessed the appearance of the wounds.

At an Afghan military hospital, a doctor recorded two other victims that were, quote, dead due to gunshot injuries and blast injuries from the airport attack.

Then, there are the survivors. One Afghan survivor was treated in the U.S. military's own Walter Reed Hospital outside Washington. He showed us his medical records asking to be anonymous for his safety. They recorded a gunshot wound to the left chest and blast injuries too.

Another survivor Morsal Hamidi had a bullet injury to the left side of her face, say her records from the Italian hospital in Kabul.

HAMIDI: I realized that the blood is coming from my face, like water out of a tap. I was hit by a bullet in my face in my right jaw, here and the blood extracted from this part of my throat.

WALSH (voice-over): Dead and wounded flooded into hospitals. We spoke to a doctor who treated patients at Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital, one of the biggest in Kabul. He said he pulled bullets out of four injured patients from the airport that night. He said he found gunshot wounds on many other dead bodies he examined, suggesting the number of people shot may be much higher. He asked we hide his identity for his safety.